Too funny not to post on this car site, I'm sure fellow gearheads will approve!
Dr. Edward Richtofen, Grammar Nazi: Lesson 3

The color combo on this SLS is stunning. So classy.

One of the stunning Singer 911s chilling in New York.

The styling of the 6 series is a dividing factor for people, but with a little massaging, it can look killer.

Stacked BMWs. Top to bottom: 745i, 633csi, 520, 323i.

Gotta love the duckbill on the Carrera RS.

The 1984 Porsche 959. This has always been one of my favorite cars ever. So much technology that was far ahead of its time.

BaT Exclusive: Impressive Restored 1973 BMW 2002tii

This 1973 BMW 2002tii (chassis 2764448) is a factory black sunroof car that was purchased by the seller in Northern California and imported to Canada, where he restored it from 2006-2008. The restoration included the full teardown of the body, engine, interior, and all trim, with the gas tank and rear sub frame removed as well. Some of our favorite subtle modifications were made including deleting the US-spec side markers, adding a Petri steering wheel, and a 2002 Haus 5-speed transmission swap. This BMW is now available in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for $35k USD.

The exterior was painted with Glasurit black paint after blocking and priming. Side-marker holes were filled with metal and all aluminum bright work was replaced with OEM BMW new parts. All chrome parts were re-chromed to show quality and all rubber seals and bumper rubber was replaced with OEM BMW rubber. An new BMW windshield and new BMW OEM “roundie” tail lights were installed, and the bumpers tucked in with ’72 bumper brackets, which look better than the ’73 units.

Underneath, the body was wire-brushed, cleaned and sealed with two coats of POR15 rust protection paint and Wurth High Build Undercoating under the rear subframe. Wheel-wells received the same POR15 and Wurth treatment. Front wells received the POR15 and POR Chassis Coat. Inside them are period gold Work Equip 03 custom wheels (15×7 front with 195/50 and 15×7.5 rear with 205/50), and the seller says that a different set of BBS wheels are also available. The car sits very nicely thanks to Bilstein HD shocks and Ireland Engineering springs, and the seller says that cornering is fantastic.

The car is nicely sorted and has 15k miles since the restoration. A full restoration log can be found here on the 2002FAQ. The seller says that the car is a blast to drive as it is fast and tight, and it gets great gas mileage and is super reliable. It is well-known on the 2002 FAQ board as the owner has traveled to numerous events in the US. Below is a video he shot in the car with his youngest son on father’s day 2012.

The interior is one of our favorite we’ve seen in a 2002 in some time. The E21 320i sport front seats were recovered with correct vinyl and an NOS tii dash in excellent condition was installed. A new headliner was added with all new rubber door and window seals (of course…OEM BMW). Rear seats are from a BMW 635CSI and were custom fit with a custom parcel shelf. German square weave carpet was added along with a Petri Sport wheel and a restored center console. A Parker Performance Center console plate with VDO gauges for oil pressure, oil temp and water temp looks great, and and M3 5-speed shift knob also looks nice. An E30 M3 map light rear view mirror was wired in and is functional, and the seller is proud of the proper Golde sunroof wind deflector, which is very rare. Lastly, an Alpine CDA 9835 Head unit with IPOD control in the glove box, custom kick panel front speakers, trunk mounted amp and subwoofer deliver sounds.

The engine was rebuilt with donor block by Markus Glarner Motorworks in Port Perry, ON (noted Vintage BMW racer and engine builder). It was a performance build including JE forged 10:1 pistons, lightened connecting rods, a hardened crank, Dibilias 284 tii cam, ported head, and new valves. All services were properly finished, all metals plated as correct from the factory, like a Wrinkle coat valve cover, etc. The mechanical fuel injection was properly set-up for for the 284 cam. All new OEM BMW hoses were used for cooling, vacuum, and fuel, and Ireland Engineering Poly engine mounts keep things steady. A 320i radiator was selected for optimum cooling, with a new thermostat and fan. A major commitment was the all-new fuel delivery system, including the Tii fuel pump, fuel accumulator, fuel filter, KFISH pump lines, and the proper BMW fuel hoses and fuel hose clamps.

The original Tii fuel tank was removed and resealed during restoration, and a new front wiring harness from BMW Mobile Tradition. A Painless Performance H4 headlight wiring harness supplies an HID conversion within the Euro headlight buckets, and Cibie Oscar Driving lights and Italian turn signals were also added. A battery relocation kit took the dry cell battery to the truck for better weight balance and space under the hood, and a rebuilt tii alternator was spun to 80A. Lastly, an Ireland ceramic-coated Step Header and Ireland Stainless Steel 2″ exhaust finish off the powerplant.

The 2002Haus 5-speed conversion is the best on the market, and includes a custom cut driveshaft, Z3 shifter, and all brackets to properly align the housing. The gearbox selected was an E21 5-speed transmission that was resealed and has no leaks. A 320i 3.91 LSD was rebuilt in 2012, and likewise has no leaks. New Turbo rear spindles were added along with poly transmission bushings. The rear subframe was stripped down to bare metal, received three coats of POR15 and POR Chassis coat, and was re-installed with new poly bushings, a new Suspension Techniques sway bar, and all replacement bolts purchased new from BMW.

Brakes are the Ireland Engineering big brake front kit with E21 hubs and an Aardvarc Performance rear disc conversion kit. New steel hard lines run throughout the car, and new steel flex lines were added along with new brake fluid reservoir and hoses (yup… BMW OEM).

Check out the many additional photos here http://kristobias.smugmug.com/Cars/1973-BMW-2002-tii/11952865_XbW2Z5#!i=2645372532&k=6NGbZsz

Custom painted Porsche 918 Spyder. Can't wait to start seeing these on the street.

Sad storm trooper leaning on his TT.

Gib Bosworth shown with his Kremer ST tribute car, Hunziker Apparel shoes and his original Nicolas Hunziker painting which inspired our 911ST shirt. We met Gib so early in our existence we weren't even making shirts yet. He has been a great supporter of us through the years and a valued friend. From Nicolas Hunziker Automotive Fine Art at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicolas-Hunziker-Automotive-Fine-Art/127893570583239

The terrifying R8-GTR looking like its about to eat a mountain.

Evolution of the 911 Turbo. My heart will always belong to the 993.

"You Cannot Do It Alone" - a tribute to Helmuth Bott's Porsche 959.

I don't care that the Mcoupe literally looks like a phallus, I'll always have a soft spot for them.

e30 M3 with accurate plates.

Two of the rarest BMWs in America (and the world) in one place. The e24 Alpina B10 3.5 is the only one of its kind that exists in the Western Hemisphere and is one of 14 that are known to be left in the world. It is a rare sight to see one of these cruising down the street, but seeing one together with another e24 Alpina is a whole different ballgame.

The evolution of the M5. To me, the first is the best.

Since the late 1970s Alpina has been recognized by TÜV as an automobile manufacturer, thus Alpina-built cars are branded and registered as Alpina instead of BMW, although an Alpina can be bought and serviced at local BMW dealerships, and covered if there is a warranty issue.
Distinctive features of Alpina vehicles are 20 spoke alloy wheels, "Alpina Blue" patented metallic paint, in addition to expensive interior materials used to fabricate the exclusive interior appointments. A typical blue and green pattern (same as in the logo) is often used on interior parts such as stitchings on leather and different fabrics used in the upholstery. A thin, almost pinstripe like outside body decor set in gold or silver is also a trademark of Alpina cars. A metal plate inside also proves the heritage and the serial number of the car.
Compared to cars from BMW's in-house motorsport-rooted subsidiary, BMW M, Alpina's vehicles have more emphasis on luxury, higher torque, and have automatic transmissions instead of manual or semi-automatic transmissions. For instance, regarding the high performance variants of the BMW E60 5-Series, the B5 offers a different take on performance and how to accomplish it. Unlike BMW M's own M5 which has a naturally aspirated, high-revving 5.0L V10, the Alpina B5 uses a supercharged 4.4L V8 which produces similar horsepower and remarkably greater torque at lower rpm.

E28 M5 CSL sporty some dramatic widebody fenders.

SLR-722 on the docks in Monaco.

Porsche 550 Spyder.

A garage you would never see in northern climates.

My 3 favorite cars:

1. Audi R8
2. Audi R8
3. Audi R8

This E30 looks like its driving through Hunter S. Thompson's brain.

The Maybach Exelero is a high-performance unique sports car. The 700 hp two-seater with a twin turbo V12 engine is a one-off design built on request for Fulda Tires. Fulda is using this car as a reference vehicle to test a new generation of wide tires. The German luxury car manufacturer created the one-off model as a modern interpretation of its legendary streamlined sportscar from the 1930s. There are various allusions to the historical predecessor, which was likewise based on a powerful Maybach automobile. In this case, the Maybach SW 38 was also used by Fulda for tire testing.

The car is owned by Arnaud Massartic. The car is also famous for being portrayed in one of the episodes of long-running German show; Cobra 11.

Jay-Z featured the car in the music video for "Lost One".

All of the beauty and power of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was captured in INP Media's stunning film that was created for the UK press launch of the supercar.

Over the years the 911 has grown quite a bit in size. Luckily, it's also grown quite a bit in power as well.

He's already got AWD, let's hope he's got snow tires.

3 generations of M3. Which is your favorite?

Despite the misleading name, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was based neither on the famous 1954 300SL (W198) Gullwing road car, nor the earlier 1952 (W194) race car, although it bears a strong resemblance to both (including, in the coupe version, the distinctive 'gullwing doors'). Instead, it was based on the 1954–1955 Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz W196 race car; it was Mercedes' marketing department, considering 'W196S' an uninspiring name, who ordered the name '300 SLR'. It is generally accepted that this name references the car's lightweight construction as 'Sport Leicht Rennen'.

The Brumos Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer is not only very good at getting around a track, it's very good at getting to the checkered flag in first place. To celebrate the team's 50-plus-year history and winning last year's Rolex Grand-Am championship, Brumos, in conjunction with Porsche, is offering prepping the final five U.S.-spec 2012 911 GT3 Cup cars just like its racers.

The means a 4.0-liter flat-six with more torque and more than 450 horsepower, a Motec data acquisition system, carbon interior bits, a front debris screen, a rev-blipping system for better downshifts and new brake and steering sensors. It will be finished in the white-with-twin-stripes Brumos livery, and offered for $265,259 plus tax for five fortunate buyers. That price will also get owners to a handover ceremony and dinner at Porsche Motorsport North America with Brumos Racing vice president Hurley Haywood and drivers Leh Keen and Andrew Davis.

Some lucky dude's Porsche 356 collection. I'll take the convertible.

1986 Porsche 959 Prototype, sold at auction for $440,000. You don't see too many of these in this country.

Mercedes Benz transporter for the world class winning 300 SLR.

If she doesn't hand me the correct wrench I will be compelled to spank her.

R&T SEPT 1984 P.S. "The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence".

A drive-in full of Bugs watching Herbie. Classic!

Mercedes E63 AMG Super Wagon. Behold the Unicorn, that mythical and magical four-legged beast of European folklore so adored and revered for its rarity, purity and grace. Legend has it that this exotic, equine-like creature with its pointy, spiraling horn, could only be captured by a virgin maiden and never tamed. Ladies, who were, shall we say, economical with the truth, were skewered by that horn!

While it’s been some time since the last recorded unicorn sighting - I think Lindsay Lohan was once snapped riding one down Hollywood Boulevard by TMZ - there is a modern day version of this fantastical filly. It’s called the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon. Like the Unicorn, chances are you’ll never actually see one in captivity. You can’t walk into a Mercedes showroom and take a test drive; they’re only available by very special order and only delivered after the handing over of $92,400 together with your first-born!

Yet they do exist, and for a few brief, fleeting days, I held the keys to a snowy-white example that, just like the wild and horny Unicorn, kicked and snorted and refused to be tamed.

Here is the five-door wagon version of Mercedes’ blunt instrument E63 AMG sedan. These days Americans love wagons as much as a root canal, preferring instead the lofty, high command driving position and over-sized footprint of an SUV.

They just don’t know what they’re missing. For here is the perfect melding of searing-hot sports sedan and versatile, carryall wagon. It’s powered by a weapons-grade 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 - hand-crafted by the power-meisters at AMG - that spews out a massive 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

Spend the extra $6,550 - and why the heck wouldn’t you - on the optional AMG Performance Pack and power output soars to a monstrous 550 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. To put that into some kind of perspective, a Lamborghini Gallardo offers a piffling 513 ponies!

What this translates into is Exocet missile-like performance. Floor it from standstill and this asphalt-hugging family-hauler will lunge to 60 mph in an unthinkable 3.9 seconds, and probably do so in the length of the average Starbucks drive-through. Don’t lift and the speedo will kiss its 186-mph marker! Ooooh and what a soundtrack this beast plays. It’s a deep, throbby, Guns ’n Roses-like bellow amp’d through a quartet of shiny, ‘squarcle’ tailpipes. Think Godzilla gargling with roofing nails and you’ll get the picture.


Want to impress your kids when you pick them up from school? Hit the ‘Race Start Mode’ on the center console, keep your left foot hard on the brake, floor the throttle, then step off the brake. The rear tires will light up like Catherine Wheels (pinwheel fireworks) on the Fourth of July, engulfing the car in acrid smoke before depositing two huge tramlines of black rubber. Juvenile, I know. Devilishly entertaining? You bet!

There’s a seven-speed AMG automatic to take care of shifting, with beautifully crafted metal paddle shifters for do-it-yourself gear swaps. Select Sport or Sport+ and the gears hold on longer and the revs go higher. And boy is this fun through the twisties. The steering feels meaty and precise and I love the salami-thick wheel with its racecar-style, squared-off lower section. With three different suspension settings, you can pick from comfy, no-roll sporty, or let’s-head-to-the-track firm.

Inside the “63” is a masterpiece of Teutonic cool with lashings of taut black leather, brushed metal and high-tech carbon fiber. And front seats don’t come better than these - I love the power side bolsters that boost side support during hard cornering.

At the press of a button the tailgate powers skywards - albeit rather leisurely - doing a neat party trick of raising the load area cover with it. And the load space is vast and practically proportioned with nice square sides. And the rear seats are split and easily fold flat to double the amount of load space. A 42-inch flat screen slides in no problem. Trust me, you don’t need any towering SUV.

At this week’s Detroit auto show, Mercedes will pull the silk off a face-lifted E- Class sedan which should land in U.S. showrooms this spring. But a new E wagon won’t land ‘till the end of the year, and an AMG version is probably 18 months to a couple of years away.

So until then, this current version could well be my idea of the perfect car. Compact yet spacious, versatile, practical, stylish, and obscenely powerful. And, of course, as rare as that horny Unicorn!

Produced in two distinct series between 1973 and 1975, the BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” was truly a racing car for the road. Featuring a lightweight alloy bonnet and outer door skins, thin-gauge steel panels, deleted front bumper, lightweight interior, up-rated engine and a host of radical aerodynamic devices inspiring its “Batmobile” nickname.

Classic Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing. I love this.

631 hp Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series tuned by MEC Design. Pretty mean looking if you ask me.

The mighty Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport setting a land speed record at 267.81 mph!